Yoo Simin: "I Will Seek Disciplinary Action Against Judge Ji Guyon for Unlawful Rulings and Disregard of Rights Until My Last Day"

"Detention Canceled for Yoon with 'Magical Arithmetic'"
"Special Treatment in Closed Trials as Well"

Writer Yoo Simin criticized Chief Judge Ji Guyon, who presided over the trial related to the 12·3 insurrection, calling it "evidence that the judicial system is broken."

Writer Yoo Simin. Photo by Heo Younghan

On April 21, in a column contributed to the online media outlet Mindeulle, Yoo stated, "Chief Judge Ji Guyon violated the Criminal Procedure Act, which clearly stipulates that the period of detention should be calculated in days, by calculating it in hours and canceling the detention of former President Yoon. He released Yoon Seokyeol, the chief defendant in the insurrection, with what can only be called 'magical arithmetic.'"

He continued, "Judge Ji is continuing with bizarre conduct. He is holding closed trials for Kim Yonghyun (former Minister of National Defense) and Noh Sangwon (former Director of Military Intelligence Command), who are indicted for major roles in the insurrection. When the prosecution requested closed witness examinations for active-duty officers from the Intelligence Command and others, citing national security, he immediately accepted. The public has no way of knowing what witnesses are saying or how the trials of key figures in the insurrection are proceeding, as these hearings are held in courtrooms with neither reporters nor observers present."

He further pointed out that Judge Ji is granting special favors to former President Yoon. Yoo said, "Even though the trial is being held without detention, from the very first hearing, Yoon was allowed to use the underground passage typically reserved for detained defendants. Reporters were barred from photographing the courtroom. The judge allowed the defendant to sit behind the defense counsel. During the identification process, when the defendant is supposed to answer questions about name and occupation, the judge answered on his behalf. Yoon Seokyeol was allowed to speak freely for 80 minutes under the pretext of a 'general statement.'"

Yoo went on to criticize Judge Ji for granting the former president's request for release from detention on March 7 and for allowing Yoon to attend court in private, stating, "He demonstrates in many ways that our judicial system is seriously broken."

Additionally, Yoo said, "As a sovereign citizen of the democratic republic and as a taxpayer fulfilling my duties, I want to see Judge Ji Guyon, who hands down unlawful rulings and disregards the public's right to know, disciplined. Until the day I die, whenever I have the chance, I will mention his name."